Expert: Mike Mascio - 8/25/2009

Question
I am growing jalapeno, habanero, and thai peppers. i found a tomato horn worm on one of them. now when i pick my peppers (which look ripe) i cut them open to find this little maggot looking worm inside which is eating the seeds and membrane of the peppers. i have thrown out more than i have used. what is this annoying thing and how do i get rid of it?

Answer
Shannon, it can be one of several worms that infest pepper plants. These include the pepper hornworm, the tobacco hornworm, the beet armyworm, and the pepper maggot. Based on your description, it sounds like the maggot. This one bores into the pepper and eats from the inside.

Regardless of the type of worm, they can all be controlled with a product called BT. BT is an organic insecticide which is short for Bacillus Thuringiensis, more commonly sold under the brand names Green Step, Dipel or MVP. It is a dust that is non-toxic to humans and beneficials but highly effective against caterpillars. cabbage worms, and hornworms. As with other organic insecticides such as pyrethrum and rotenone, you can purchase this product through on-line catalogs such as Gardens Alive, Planet Natural, or locally at many garden centers.

http://www.planetnatural.com/site/safer-dust.html

http://www.gardensalive.com/product.asp?pn=8797  

I hope this answered your question. Please write again if I can ever provide assistance.

Regards,

Mike